Pope prays Christmas softens hardened hearts to bring peace, justice

Swiss Guards arrive to attend Pope Francis’ Christmas message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The light of peace, hope and salvation brought into the
world with the birth of Jesus is stronger than the darkness of war and despair,
but spreading that light requires the cooperation of every person of good will,
Pope Francis said in his Christmas address.

From the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on a
brilliantly sunny and warm Dec. 25, the pope prayed that Emmanuel, God with us,
would bring light “to all the suffering members of our human family.”

“May He soften our often stony and self-centered hearts and
make them channels of His love,” the pope said before giving his Christmas
blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).

According to the Vatican police, there were about 55,000
people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the blessing.

Pope
Francis prayed that Jesus would “bring His smile, through our poor faces, to
all the children of the world: to those who are abandoned and those who suffer
violence.

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

“Through our frail hands, may He clothe those who have
nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the sick,” he continued. “Through
our friendship, such as it is, may He draw close to the elderly and the lonely,
to migrants and the marginalized.”

“On this joyful Christmas Day, may he bring his tenderness
to all and brighten the darkness of this world,” the pope prayed.

A few hours before the pope’s midday speech and prayer, the
Vatican released a message sent to the warring leaders of South Sudan by Pope
Francis, Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and Presbyterian Rev.
John Chalmers.

The three have been praying for an end to the South Sudanese
conflict, hosted a retreat for the opposing political leaders at the Vatican in
April and have promised to visit the country together if the leaders fulfill
their promise to form a transitional government by Feb. 20.

In their message, the three religious leaders said, “We wish
to extend to you and to all the people of South Sudan our best wishes for your
peace and prosperity, and to assure you of our spiritual closeness as you
strive for a swift implementation of the peace agreements.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he leads his Christmas message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

“We raise our prayers to Christ the savior for a renewed
commitment to the path of reconciliation and fraternity,” they said. “May the
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, enlighten you and guide your steps in the way of
goodness and truth, and bring to fulfilment our desire to visit your beloved
country.”

In his formal Christmas address, Pope Francis spoke about other
areas of the world where Christ’s peace is needed — Syria, Iraq, Congo,
Ukraine, the Holy Land — and about specific situations of poverty and
oppression that require urgent action.

Jesus
is born “like a small light flickering in the cold and darkness of the night,”
the pope said. “There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is
greater still. There is darkness in personal, family and social relationships,
but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical
and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light of Christ.”

Pope Francis was joined on the balcony by Cardinal Renato
Martino, the retired president of the former Pontifical Council for Justice and
Peace, and by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, who distributes
charity on behalf of the pope and is the main force behind the Vatican’s
practical services like showers, medical clinics and shelters for the poor.

Cardinal Krajewski, along with leaders of the Rome-based
Community of Sant’Egidio, also have been spearheading an effort to bring to
Italy vulnerable migrants and refugees stuck in camps in Greece, Lebanon and
other countries on the Mediterranean Sea.

Joining Pope Francis on the balcony Dec. 25 from the College of Cardinals are Cardinal Renato Martino (far left), the retired president of the former Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski (far right), the papal almoner, who distributes charity on behalf of the pope and is the main force behind the Vatican’s practical services like showers, medical clinics and shelters for the poor. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope
Francis prayed that “the Son of God, come down to earth from heaven,” would
protect and sustain all those who because of war, poverty and injustice “are
forced to emigrate in the hope of a secure life.”

“It is injustice that makes them cross deserts and seas that
become cemeteries,” he said. “It is injustice that forces them to endure
unspeakable forms of abuse, enslavement of every kind and torture in inhumane
detention camps.”

And, he said, “it is injustice that turns them away from
places where they might have hope for a dignified life, but instead find
themselves before walls of indifference.”

Pope Francis also prayed that Jesus, “the tiny Babe of
Bethlehem,” would “bring hope to the whole American continent, where a number
of nations are experiencing a time of social and political upheaval,”
especially in Venezuela.

Pope Francis also prayed that the newborn Jesus would bring “comfort
to those who are persecuted for their religious faith, especially missionaries
and members of the faithful who have been kidnapped.”

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